Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2011

The Dilemma ©2010 Universal Pictures. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A guy (Vince Vaughn) espies the wife (Winona Ryder) of his best friend/business partner (Kevin James) canoodling with another man, but hesitates to tell him because the two guys are at a crucial stage in the development of their product (an electric engine that makes sounds like a muscle car). Really. So where’s the dilemma? Clearly, you tell him, unless of course you’re in a romantic dramedy where the complications are as contrived and transparent as any rom-com. I found it a bit mean-spirited, and neither funny nor romantic. And the gay jokes are uncool.